A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dingley family of England.
Reg. 5332 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. fretty sa. in chief three mullets of the last”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dingley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dingley arms are recorded
The Dingley arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Dingley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Dingley Family in England
The surname Dingley is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people by the specific place where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words "ding," meaning a hollow or a sunken area, and "ley," which refers to a meadow or a clearing in the woods. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely resided near a meadow located in a low-lying valley. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Dingley family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families often moved toward urban centers like York to participate in the growing trade and craft industries. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that help historians map their movement across Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dingley
Derived from the Old English words for a valley and a clearing.
This name
DingleyRefers to a person who lived in a clearing located within a small valley.
also spelled
Dingly
Dyngley
Dyngeley
Related arms
Dinelysame arms
Dyngleyvariant spelling
Jenkesrecorded with Dingley, same area
Jurdonrecorded with Dingley, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
